Wage the Good Warfare: Know and Keep the Prophesies

Paul wrote to Timothy saying, “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience” (1 Timothy 1:18-19). The charge which Paul was referring to was for Timothy to "remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith (1 Timothy 1:3-4).

There were those who had not only suffered shipwreck having rejected the faith and a good conscience, but now they were leading others to the same shipwreck. Among them were Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom Paul "delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme" (1 Timothy 1:20). Philetus also joined in this folly of which Paul warned, "their message will spread like cancer" (2 Timothy 2:17).

God has given his children the hope of a future resurrection through Jesus Christ, "because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31). With this assurance through the prophesies of God's Word, we are to wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, and "No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier." (2 Timothy 2:4).

The Apostle Paul set an example for us to follow. In 2 Timothy 2:8-13 we are reminded of this. Paul suffered for the sake of the elect "as an evildoer, even to the point of chains" (2 Timothy 2:9). Paul attributed much of his suffering to those like Hymenaeus, Alexander, and Philetus. In the face of all this, Paul held to the prophesies of God and contended for them, having faith and a good conscience.

The opposition of these men who did much harm to Paul's ministry stemmed from their denial of the truth of the coming resurrection. This was a prevalent Gnostic heresy in Paul's time held by the Nicolaitans. The Holy Spirit spoke concerning this rejection of God's prophesies to the church at Ephesus, through John, in Revelation 2:6 saying, "But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate." Again, the Lord addressed this with the church in Pergamos saying, "Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth" (Revelation 2:15-16).

Although Paul suffered for honoring the prophesies of God's Word, we see in 2 Timothy 4:17-18, Paul was secure in the Lord and resolute in sharing the gospel. In this portion of Scripture Paul said, "But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!"

In 2 Timothy 2:19-26, Paul reminds us that God's honorable people must depart from iniquity, "pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (1 Timothy 2:22). Paul also reminds us "a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance" (1 Timothy 2:24-25).

We see how Paul dealt with those "who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some" (2 Timothy 2:18). Because they caused him harm, Paul warned Timothy against them and against all those who are like them. Yet, Paul left their ultimate fate up to God. We see Paul's heart in dealing with the unfaithful at Corinth by reading 1 Corinthians 5:4-5 where he said, "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." Again, in 1 Corinthians 5:6-13 we see Paul pass righteous judgment on those who are unfaithful to the gospel within the church.

The good warfare of faith and a good conscience requires that we stand against anyone who is "giving heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith" (1 Timothy 1:4). There is no other doctrine aside from "grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Timothy 1:2), which is our assurance of faith in "the hope and resurrection of the dead (Acts 23:6). Regarding this good warfare Paul said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7-8).